2005-06-13

Sweet Lou rips into Naimoli

Lou Piniella has ripped into D-Rays owner Vince Naimoli for not spending enough money to make the team competitive.

"I'm not going to take responsibility for this," Piniella said in pregame remarks to reporters. "If I had been given a $40 million or $45 million payroll, I'd stand up like a man and say it's my fault. Well, I'm not going to do it. So if you want answers about what's going on here, you call the new ownership group and let them give them to you."

If the D-Rays don't get a new managing general partner to replace Naimoli in the off-season, then it's inevitable that Piniella will force his way out of the franchise. Piniella is unhappy with the amount of money spent by the team, which can pay it's entire payroll with the money it receives from the luxury tax (i.e. Yankees).

Piniella wants to win now, and he has rushed the development of some of the D-Rays younger players. Piniella gives guys like B.J. Upton a couple of chances and then when they eventually make a mistake he pulls them from the lineup. Sweet Lou needs to decide on a lineup and stick to it, sending the younger guys down to the minors to get playing experience if necessary.

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